Intel and Nokia combine to make new mobile OS

While Nokia and Intel are teaming up on software, no mention was made about hardware collaboration.

With the iPhone going from strength to strength, Android gaining in popularity and mobile App stores predicted to be worth £3.8 billion this year, it’s not surprising that companies trailing Apple and Google are looking for ways to jumpstart their mobile businesses. Intel, desperate to be a bigger player in the market for tablets and smartphones and Nokia, still the world’s largest retailer of mobile devices, have announced they’re combining their efforts.

As you might expect, Intel and Nokia’s praise for each other was only exceeded by their expectations for the new mobile OS. “Our vision for seamlessly communicating between computing devices from the home, auto, office or your pocket is taking a big step forward today with the introduction of MeeGo,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO, Nokia added: “Through open innovation, MeeGo will create an ecosystem that is second to none, drawing in players from different industries. It will support a range of business models across the value chain, building on the experience and expertise of Nokia, Intel and all those who will join us. Simply put, MeeGo heralds a new era of mobile computing.”

While MeeGo is a unified OS, some traces of company specific divisions remains – the press release says the Ovi Store will be the channel to market for apps and content for all Nokia devices, while the Intel AppUp Center will be used for Intel-based MeeGo devices from other device manufacturers.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the press release is the promise that “since MeeGo runs on multiple device types, people can keep their favorite applications when they change devices, so they are not locked into one kind of device or those from any individual manufacturer.”

One element conspicuously absent from the press release was any mention of Nokia producing smartphones or other devices using Intel x86 CPUs as opposed to the ARM CPUs more commonly found in mobile phones – and as we explored on the blog last week, ARM’s increasing attractiveness for a wide range of hardware designs is something that Intel would do well to fear.

The first MeeGo devices, including a Nokia phone, are due before the end of the year. Interested in this new mobile OS? Or do Apple and Google have the market sewn up already? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.

It's a total myth the iPhone and Android have the market "sewn up". Between the two of them they account for less than 15% of the UK open mobile OS market, and Android is worth less than 5%.

Symbian is many, many, many times larger than all of them added together, Nokia still totally have the market stitched up in terms of share. Windows Mobile on the other hand is worth now less than 1% of the market, oh dear Microsoft!

Originally Posted by BauulWindows Mobile on the other hand is worth now less than 1% of the market, oh dear Microsoft!

Could be why they've started from scratch with WinMob 7, just finished reading an interview on Cnet and it's looking interesting, it seems to be tied to Live! an awful lot ( and I don't know if it's enough to change the image built up over the previous versions of the OS though).

Yeah, what happens to Maemo?
If they merge Maemo and Moblin, surely there's less potential OSs for a phone? Or at maximum, the same? After all, if they're merging Maemo and Moblin they wouldn't continue developing Maemo separately aswell.

The difference in application markets is just the same as the difference between HTC Sense (Android) and Motoblur (Android): just an overlay, the same OS really.

Originally Posted by BauulIt's a total myth the iPhone and Android have the market "sewn up". Between the two of them they account for less than 15% of the UK open mobile OS market, and Android is worth less than 5%.

Symbian is many, many, many times larger than all of them added together, Nokia still totally have the market stitched up in terms of share. Windows Mobile on the other hand is worth now less than 1% of the market, oh dear Microsoft!

How much longer has Symbian been around though?

To be honest as much as I love Intel as a hardware manufacture they just cant seem to do software at the same level.... not that i'd ever use anything other than Android from now on anyways.

I don't know anyone these days that uses a Nokia, so they must be really struggling to pull themselves out of the mire they created for themselves to be teaming up with the likes of Intel, either that or Intel are hoping to fight back against the Google and Apple monolithic marketing machines (mmm for short), with a little help.

Yep, considering Android has been out for just over a year and only used on a few 'smart' phones, 5% is a huge lump to have.

Both Apple and Google understand that most of their users have no idea or inclination to know how things work and tweak them to what they want. Essentially trying to give as much functionality to a user not much above caveman intelligence, but with enough flexibility to allow the more tech savvy to enjoy the experience too.

The N900 is great, but you have to be a bit of a techy tinkerer to get the best out of it. Windows mobile has all the 'designed by comittee' tick boxes tickes, so is essentially an incoherent mess.

If they can achieve the Google and Apple approach successfully, then it should be great. If not then another crappy phone OS making good hardware useless.

Originally Posted by BauulWindows Mobile on the other hand is worth now less than 1% of the market, oh dear Microsoft!

Could be why they've started from scratch with WinMob 7, just finished reading an interview on Cnet and it's looking interesting, it seems to be tied to Live! an awful lot ( and I don't know if it's enough to change the image built up over the previous versions of the OS though).

I think its enough to change the image of WinMob7 (or Windows phone 7)

Originally Posted by tad2008I don't know anyone these days that uses a Nokia, so they must be really struggling to pull themselves out of the mire they created for themselves

Again, a myth. The Nokia 5800 was the best selling contract phone by a country mile last year. Additionally, products like the 6303 and 6700 have sold by the bucketload: Nokia are still the biggest manufacturer in the postpay market by a long way, and that looks likely to continue into 2010. Where they've lost share is the prepay market to Samsung and LG, but this isn't an area where smartphones have made really very much impact.

IMO they should be called SHOKIA for the appallingly unimaginative phones they've created over the last few years. I mean they couldn't even be bothered putting a capacitive touch screen on the N97 which is a major faux pas on a current phone.

They may have the market share but 99% of their product range is pure dross.

As far as I'm concerned Apple, RIM, HTC and Samsung are going to continue to lead the way as far as innovation goes!!

Log in

You are not logged in, please login with your forum account below. If you don't already have an account please register to start contributing.